ONE FROM EACH COLUMN: My 46-Year Trek From Abusive Childhood To Elusive Motherhood

I wasn’t the first to be abused, or have a kid at forty-six, or muscle through everything in-between. My inner superhero, Fightin’ Little Jodi, survived a tough upbringing in Pittsburgh and graduated high school by the paper-thin skin of her pearly-whites. After dropping out of college a month before graduation, I decided to pursue an acting career in LA and NYC in the wanton ‘80s. With many sexual encounters; lots of drugs; colossally bad decisions; three marriages in eight years, all before 40; and tons of fun along the way, I have the stories, and receipts, to prove it all.

Experiencing an often-challenging life through the lens of a nearly broken psyche and excellent comedic timing - I finally arrived at my ultimate goal - to repair myself and create a happy family with multiple children, long after fertility faded. I learned that with sufficient rage and much humor, healing can happen; the abused need not become the abuser; and building a flourishing family through multiple alternative methods is possible.

While the road was long and often treacherous, I made the most important discovery of all… that the bond of love between a parent and child is the same - exactly the same - regardless of how our children find their way into our home and heart. How can I be so sure? I had ONE FROM EACH COLUMN.